SERIES & GRADE:

POSITION INFORMATION:

DUTY LOCATIONS:

WHO MAY APPLY:

Current permanent federal employees with competitive status, reinstatement eligibles, persons with disabilities, VEOA eligibles, certain military spouses, 30% or more disabled veterans, former Peace Corps or VISTA volunteers, CTAP and ICTAP eligibles, and Farm Service Agency permanent employees of county committees.

JOB SUMMARY:

A career with the Forest Service will challenge you to manage and care for more than 193 million acres of our nation's most magnificent lands, conduct research through a network of forest and range experiment stations and the Forest Products Laboratory, and provide assistance to State and private forestry agencies.

It's an awesome responsibility - but the rewards are as limitless as the views.

This position is located in the Intermountain Region, State and Private Forestry Staff. For additional information about the duties of the position, please contact John Shannon at 406-329-3280 or jtshannon@fs.fed.us.

This position is an interdisciplinary position for the General Schedule 0414 and 0434 series. The incumbent serves as the Forest Health Protection (FHP) Group Leader. The position has responsibility for providing long-range planning, program direction, coordination, evaluation of program activities and staff supervision.

We expect to make a final job offer within 30-60 days after the deadline for applications.

Please read the vacancy announcement thoroughly and follow all instructions to ensure proper consideration. If you are unable to apply on-line or have questions about the meaning of items in the vacancy announcement, please contact Human Resources Management at 1-877-372-7248.

Applications may be reviewed to verify qualifications and eligibility prior to issuing lists to a selecting official.

The position has a positive education requirement; therefore, a legible copy of your college transcripts is required. Transcripts must be attached to your application prior to the closing date of the announcement. Applicants who fail to submit their transcripts with their application will not be given credit for their education.

This position is being filled through one of the following series: GS-0414 or GS-0434.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply.

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with the Selective Service.

DUTIES:

Responsible for directing the development of work plans, Field Office program of work, staffing plans, supervisor of personnel, budgets, policies, and guiding activities to accomplish program objectives. Develops annual and long-term pest management programs for the Boise Field Office (BFO). The incumbent is responsible for supervising employees ranging from GS-07 to GS-12 grade levels and seasonal staffs assigned to the Boise Field Office.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

You must possess the Basic Requirements identified below to be considered eligible for this position. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the appropriate experience requirements.

Qualifications for the 0414-Entomology Series

You must possess the Basic Requirements identified below to be considered eligible.

Bachelor's Degree: entomology; or a related discipline of the biological or physical sciences that included at least 16 semester hours in entomology.

or

Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major that included course work as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

AND/OR

Qualifications for the 0434-Plant Pathology Series

You must possess the Basic Requirements identified below to be considered eligible.

Bachelor's Degree: plant pathology; or a related scientific discipline that included at least 20 semester hours in basic botany or plant science, and 10 semester hours in plant pathology.

Courses in botany, plant physiology, plant taxonomy, plant pathology, agronomy, forestry, horticulture, or similar subjects may be used to meet the 20-semester-hour requirement in basic botany or plant science. To meet the specific 10-semester-hour requirement in plant pathology, the courses must have been in plant pathology, or have dealt with specific subject matter areas of plant pathology such as those concerned with viruses, fungal or bacterial diseases, host-plant relationships, biotic or chemical controls, environmental or physiological diseases, parasitic diseases, etc. Applicants with major fields of study in biology, zoology, or invertebrate zoology may fully meet the basic educational requirements if their academic preparation included substantive instruction (including appropriate laboratory and field work) in basic general entomology, taxonomy, physiology, ecology, general and organic chemistry, general physics, and mathematics or statistics that provided some training in the analysis of variables.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

In addition to the basic requirements, the following additional experience is required. Your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the specialized experience requirements. Specialized experience is defined as experience that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level. Examples of specialized experience are: provided in-depth analysis of unusual or complex forest health conditions situations that required innovated thinking and changes in standard methodology; served as an area representative for Regional or National programs in forest health; and/or developed forest health training programs.

REQUIREMENTS:

To receive consideration for this position, you must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements with 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Subject to satisfactory completion of a one year supervisory/managerial probationary period.

May be subject to satisfactory completion of one year probationary period or trial period.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education, experience, and training you described in your resume, as well as the responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below:

Knowledge of the science, principles, techniques, theories, and established practices of forest health protection.

Knowledge of Federal, Tribal, State, and other resource management policies and objectives.

Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. Eligible applicants will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. All Quality candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Non-Competitive and special hiring authority candidates need to meet minimum qualification requirements to be referred.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the “Apply Online” button to the right.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Relocation expenses may be authorized.

This position is not eligibile for the bargaining unit.

Career Transition Assistance Plan(CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, provide proof of eligibility. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate to be considered. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AND FINGERPRINT CHECK: Selection and retention in this position is contingent on a successfully adjudicated FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check) and a background investigation.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin.

You must complete the application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. Assistance is available during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday). Applying online is highly encouraged. If applying online poses a hardship, please contact our office well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages with supporting documents must be received no later than noon on the closing date of the announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its closing. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.

Step1 – Create a USAJOBS account (if you do not already have one) at www.usajobs.gov. It is recommended that as part of your profile you set up automatic email notification to be informed when the status of your application changes. If you choose not to set up this automatic notification, then you will have to log into your USAJOBS account to check on the status of your application.

Step 2 - Create a Resume with USAJOBS or upload a Resume into your USAJOBS account. You may want to customize your resume to ensure it documents duties and accomplishments you have gained that are directly related to this position in order to verify that qualifications are met. In addition, your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire (you may preview the online questionnaire by clicking on the link at the end of the How You Will Be Evaluated section of the job announcement).

Step 3 - Click "Apply Online" and follow the prompts to complete the Occupational Questionnaire and attach any additional documents that may be required.

You can update your application or documents anytime while the announcement is open. Simply log into your USAJOBS account and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select "Update Application” to continue.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

The following documents must be submitted for your application package to be considered complete. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents are received within the required timeframes. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in the mail service, system failure or downtime, etc. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

The following documents are required of ALL APPLICANTS:

Resume that includes the following information: 1) job information for which you are applying; 2) personal information; 3) education; 4) work experience including the work schedule and hours worked per week as well as dates of employment; and title, series and grade, if applicable; 5) supervisors phone number and e-mail address for each work period listed and whether or not we may contact them for reference checks; and, 6) other qualifications.

College Transcripts if education is required for meeting basic qualifications and/or you are substituting education for specialized experience. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if selected, an official college transcript will be required. Transcripts are not required if applying to the same series and specialty currently serving in or previously served in.

Other required documents may include:

Current/Former Career/Career-Conditional Eligibles:MUST submit a copy of your most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) showing that you are/were in the competitive service, as well as the highest grade (or promotion potential) held, on a permanent basis, your federal status, position title, series and grade AND the most recently completed annual performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) which identifies the employee’s official rating of record, signed by the supervisor, or a statement advising why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan.

VEOA Eligibles: MUST submit Veteran's Preference documentation, for consideration: DD-214 (Member 4 Copy) if claiming Veterans’ Preference. Veterans claiming 10 point preference must also submit an SF-15 Application for 10-point Veteran Preference. Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within the last 120 days.

Interchange Agreement with Other Merit Systems Eligibles: MUST submit documentation of eligibility as listed in each individual interchange agreement.

VRA or 30% Disabled Veteran Eligibles: MUST submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 Copy), VA letter, SF-15 if claiming 10 pt. preference OR if you currently on active duty, a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within the last 120 days.

Peace Corps Volunteers/Personnel Eligibles: MUST submit documentation of no less than 36 months of continuous service without a break in service of 3 days or more and separated within the last 3 years.

Schedule A, Persons with Disabilities Appointment Eligibles: MUST submit a copy of your Sch A letter from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office citing your eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u).

Non-Competitive Reassignment/Transfer/Reinstatement Eligibles: MUST submit a copy of your most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) in the competitive service with the same or higher promotion potential as this position.

Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated by the Office of Personnel Management Eligibles: (Postal Career Service Employees, Postal Service Commission Employees, GAO, US Courts, etc.), MUST submit a copy of your current non-award Notification of Personnel Action (or equivalent) that reflects your eligibility.

Certain Family Members Eligible under E.O. 12721: MUST submit a copy of your most recent non-award SF-50 and performance appraisal.

Certain Military Spouses Eligible under E.O. 13473: MUST submit a copy of your Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, issued within the last 2 years, that lists you as authorized to accompany the military member to the new duty permanent station; OR verification of the member's 100% disability (VA Letter); and/or verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage).

Foreign Service Eligibles: MUST submit a copy of your most recent Foreign Service Notification of Personnel Action, showing that you were/are serving under an unlimited, career-type appointment AND have completed at least 1 year of continuous service without a break of a workday under one or more nontemporary Foreign Service appointments.

CTAP/ICTAP Required Documentation Reduction-In-Force: Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; AND most recent performance evaluation; AND SF-50 demonstrating your separation or the position you will be separated from. Worker's Compensation Separation: Agency certification of inability to place employee AND Notification of Separation OR Separation SF-50. Disability Annuity Termination: Notification from OPM of disability annuity termination AND Separation SF-50 of the last position held. Military Reserve or National Guard Technician Special Disability Retirement Annuity under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456: Certification of special disability retirement annuity from a military department or National Guard Bureau AND Separation SF-50 of the last position held.

For more information on different appointment eligibility and requirements for documentation, click here.

NOTE: If a document is resubmitted, it replaces the previous submission, which means the previous document is no longer available to the Human Resources Office. If you are adding to, rather than replacing a previous submission, you must upload both the old document and the new document. Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded resumes must be less than 3MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, or Word (DOC or DOCX).

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

Agency Information:USDA Forest ServiceDo not mail in applications, see instructions under the How to Apply tab.Albuquerque, NM,
87109United States
Fax: 866-388-2534

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

If you set up your USAJOBS account to send automatic email notifications, you will receive an acknowledgement email that the submission of your online Occupational Questionnaire and resume was successful, if you were referred to the selecting official for consideration, and if you were selected or not selected. If you choose not to set up automatic email notifications, you must check your USAJOBS account for the latest status of your application. Your application may be reviewed to verify that you meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements for the position prior to issuing lists to a selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Normally, a final job offer to the selected candidate is made within 30-60 days after the issuance of the certificate.